Hoover football struggles again in lopsided loss to Arcadia
GLENDALE — A year ago, the Hoover High football team played one its best games of the season in a valiant effort against an Arcadia team that finished the campaign with just two wins.
A year later, the Tornadoes discovered that this season’s Arcadia team is much better than the 2014 squad.
The Apaches scored 27 first-half points and surrendered just 76 total yards of offense in a 41-0 Pacific League victory over the Tornadoes on Friday at Moyse Field.
“They looked like a completely different team,” Hoover Coach Matt Andersen said. “They got a new coaching staff and a bunch of transfers.”
Arcadia (5-4, 4-2 in league) rolled to 53-21 and 24-7 wins against Hoover in the first two years that Andrew Policky took over the Apaches’ program. Policky coached the Tornadoes for five years, three as an assistant, before stepping down from his post at Hoover to return to his alma mater. The Apaches, who entered the game against Hoover in fourth place in league and only a game out of third, will close out the regular season Thursday with a 7 p.m. contest against Crescenta Valley at Moyse Field in their bid to reach the postseason for the first time in Policky’s tenure and for the first time since 2012. The Apaches and Crescenta Valley are tied for third with two losses after Crescenta Valley lost to Burroughs, which clinched a share of the league title on Friday.
“Everybody keeps saying we got a bunch of transfers,” Policky said. “We got two or three.”
One of the transfers to Arcadia was standout wide receiver Raeshawn Roland, originally from San Bernardino.
The junior helped his team score on all four of its first-half possessions, including a pair of scores just 22 seconds apart and a 51-yard touchdown pass on a fourth-and-10 play. Roland had a pair of touchdown receptions and Jimmy Gassner had two scoring runs in the opening half. Roland’s first touchdown came after the Apaches recovered a fumble after their opening score with 3:02 remaining in the first quarter. Roland, who finished with seven receptions for 172 yards, added his third touchdown catch on his team’s opening possession of the second half.
“With Roland and [quarterback Nico Hillier, who tossed three scores], we’re a threat to score at anytime,” Policky said.
Arcadia also caused havoc for a Hoover offense that has struggled to produce points this season.
The Tornadoes (1-8, 0-6) have lost seven straight games and have been kept scoreless in six of those games, including their past four games.
“We can’t capitalize on our opportunities,” said Andersen, who received 28 yards rushing from quarterback Quinton Smith. “We’re not a big-play team.”
Hoover will end its season with the 87th rendition of the “Battle for the Victory Bell” on Friday against cross-town rival Glendale at Moyse Field. The Nitros have defeated the Tornadoes for five consecutive years and own a 51-33-3 advantage in the rivalry, which began in 1930, including wins in 20 of the 25 contests since 1990.
The Tornadoes will also be looking to snap a 23-game league losing streak dating back to Oct. 12, 2012 when Hoover secured a win against Pasadena. The win in 2012 is the Tornadoes’ only league victory in their last 41 outings.
“Everyone is going to get fired up for the Glendale game,” Andersen said. “I wish every game was like that. We need that win.”